New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson was accused of rape in a lawsuit filed this week in Los Angeles, the New York Post reported on Friday.

• In the suit filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, the woman -- identified as Jane Doe from Seattle -- alleges Williamson sexually assaulted her twice in 2020.

  The plaintiff, who claims to be the NBA forward's ex-girlfriend, alleges in a 12-page filing that there was a pattern of "abusive, controlling and threatening behavior" toward her that occurred in California, Louisiana and other states.

  Williamson, 24, also is accused of threatening to have his security personnel shoot Doe in the head and have her parents killed, according to the report. The filing alleges Williamson was drunk or had taken cocaine during many of the alleged incidents.

  "Our client is very adamant about this -- it's not her desire or our desire to litigate this case in the press," Doe's attorney, Sam Taylor with the Lanier Law Firm, told the Post on Friday. "It's a very serious case, as reflected in the allegations. Our client looks forward to her day in court where she can go and explain to a jury what happened to her, the things she endured for this defendant and getting justice."

  Williamson's attorney, Michael Balascio, provided the following statement:

  "We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and we unequivocally deny them. The allegations contained in the complaint are categorically false and reckless," Balascio wrote, per Front Office Sports. "This is the plaintiff's third set of attorneys. This appears to be an attempt to exploit a professional athlete driven by a financial motive rather than any legitimate grievance.

  "Mr. Williamson and the plaintiff never dated, but did maintain a consensual, casual relationship that began more than six years ago, when he was 18 years old. That relationship ended years ago. At no point during or immediately after that relationship did the plaintiff raise any concerns. Only after the friendship ended did she begin demanding millions of dollars."

  Williamson's attorney claimed that his client filed a police report against Doe for extortion with an arrest warrant issued. Williamson will file a counterclaim and seek "significant damages" for Doe's lawsuit, his attorney said.

  As of Friday afternoon, the Pelicans had not commented publicly on the allegations.

  Williamson, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Duke, is a two-time All-Star with career averages of 24.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 214 games (all starts) with the Pelicans.

  --Field Level Media

Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski is recovering from wrist surgery, the team announced Thursday.

• Podziemski, 22, underwent a debridement procedure on his left (shooting) wrist on Tuesday in Los Angeles.

  The Warriors said he is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for the start of training camp this fall.

  Podziemski averaged 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 64 games (33 starts) in 2024-25.

  A first-round pick (19th overall) in 2023, he made the All-Rookie Team in 2023-24 with 9.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.

  --Field Level Media

Karl-Anthony Towns carried the Knicks in Game 3, but the big man buckled in Game 4 and he is listed as questionable with a bruised left knee as New York faces elimination in the Eastern Conference finals.

• Towns stayed on his back in obvious pain moments after banging knees with Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith late in the fourth quarter of a 130-121 loss at Indiana in Game 4 on Tuesday night. The center briefly left the game but re-entered and was not in a talking mood postgame, leaving his status up in the air for a possible elimination game in the best-of-seven series.

  As for whether Towns is confident he can take the court for Game 5 at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night, that question won't be answered immediately.

  "I'm only thinking about this loss, I'm not thinking about that right now," Towns said postgame about his level of concern with the injury. "It's disappointing when you don't get a win. Just didn't do enough to get the job done (in Game 4)."

  Towns, 29, was favoring his left knee in the first half, but head coach Tom Thibodeau took it as a "good sign" that he was able to continue Tuesday night.

  With the Knicks trailing 3-1 in the series, Towns has done his part to keep New York in it.

  He's averaging 25.8 points and 11.5 rebounds, including a memorable effort with 24 points and 15 rebounds in Game 3. Towns scored 20 points in the final quarter of that contest.

  Nesmith is listed as questionable for the Pacers with a sprained right ankle. He injured the ankle in Game 3 and was cleared to play Tuesday just more than an hour before tipoff.

  --Field Level Media

Six-time NBA All-Star Shawn Kemp pleaded guilty on Tuesday to second-degree assault in relation to a shooting incident outside a Tacoma, Wash., mall in March 2023.

• According to reports, the prosecuting attorney suggested to the Pierce County Superior Court judge that Kemp be sentenced to nine months in jail plus a year of community custody while paying restitution to his victims. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 22.

  Kemp, 55, pleaded guilty to firing at two men in a Toyota 4Runner. Kemp testified he had his cell phone, sports memorabilia and other belongings stolen from his truck. He traced his phone to the Toyota 4Runner and accosted the driver without any resolution.

  Later, per his account, Kemp traced his phone to the Tacoma Mall and saw the same Toyota 4Runner. Though Kemp said he fired in self-defense after being targeted by someone in the car, a video showed Kemp started shooting as he emerged from his vehicle.

  Kemp's shots did not hit anyone, but they damaged the 4Runner and another car. Both of his alleged targets are currently in jail on unrelated charges.

  Kemp was selected by the SuperSonics in the first round of the 1989 NBA draft and spent the first eight of his 14 NBA seasons in Seattle. The "Reign Man" averaged 14.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game during his career. He made six consecutive All-Star appearances from 1993-98.

  --Field Level Media

Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith has been cleared to play in Tuesday's Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Knicks, coach Rick Carlisle said just more than an hour before tipoff.

• Nesmith was a game-time decision after sustaining a sprained right ankle midway through the third quarter in Game 3. He later returned with seven minutes to play but was largely ineffective.

  Carlisle said the decision to play Nesmith was because "he's doing better than expected."

  Carlisle didn't pinpoint how many minutes Nesmith could play on Tuesday in a series the Pacers lead 2-1.

  "To be determined," Carlisle said. "Not as of now, but I always watch everybody's minutes. It'll be something that in real time, we'll have to gauge."

  Nesmith was a star in Game 1 when he was a career-best 8 of 9 from 3-point range and scored 30 points. But he struggled the past two games while averaging 10 points.

  Nesmith, 25, is averaging 15.1 points and 6.2 rebounds in 13 postseason games.

  --Field Level Media

San Antonio Spurs All-Star center Victor Wembanyama is expected to return to the court by the start of training camp, ESPN reported on Tuesday.

• Wembanyama missed the last two months of this season due to a deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder. Thrombosis occurs when blood turns into clumps inside a blood vessel, creating a blood clot.

  While that sounds scary, ESPN reported that the 21-year-old Frenchman is expected to be a full-go heading into next season.

  Wembanyama averaged 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and an NBA-leading 3.8 blocked shots in 46 starts this season.

  Named the unanimous NBA Rookie of the Year last season in 2023-24, the 7-foot-3 Wembanyama competed in his first All-Star Game in 2024-25.

  The Spurs selected Wembanyama first overall in the 2023 NBA Draft. In parts of two seasons, he is averaging 22.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 3.7 blocks in 117 games (all starts). He also has made 270 3-pointers.

  --Field Level Media

Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook underwent surgery on Tuesday to repair two breaks in his right hand.

• "I'm grateful for everyone's support all year and I can't wait to be back out there at 100% soon," the veteran said in a statement posted to X by The Athletic. "The comeback is already in motion."

  Westbrook, 36, said the injury occurred during the 2024-25 season. His fingers were heavily taped during Denver's playoff run, which ended on May 18 with a six-game series loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals.

  A nine-time All-Star and the 2016-17 league MVP, Westbrook averaged 13.3 points, 6.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds in 75 games (36 starts) in his first season with the Nuggets.

  The two-time NBA scoring champion boasts career averages of 21.2 points, 8.0 assists and 7.0 rebounds in 1,237 games (1,075 starts) with the Thunder, Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Nuggets.

  Westbrook has a player option for 2025-26 that carries a $3.47 million cap hit. He is the all-time leader in triple-doubles (203) and ranks eighth in NBA history in assists (9,925) and 23rd in points (26,205) but is still seeking his first championship.

  --Field Level Media

The New York Knicks reportedly are mulling a change to their starting lineup in an effort to climb back into contention in the Eastern Conference finals against the Indiana Pacers.

• SNY reported that Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau is pondering elevating center Mitchell Robinson into the starting lineup in place of guard Josh Hart.

  "We always look at everything," Thibodeau said of the notion of tweaking the lineup following New York's 114-109 loss in Game 2 on Friday.

  The Knicks trail 2-0 in the best-of-seven series. Game 3 is Sunday night in Indianapolis.

  New York repeatedly had troubles on defense on Friday and Karl-Anthony Towns played just 28 minutes due to his issues defending Pascal Siakam, who finished with 39 points.

  The 7-foot Robinson recorded 29 minutes of playing time off the bench -- he had six points, nine rebounds and three blocks. Hart called for more of Robinson in Game 3.

  "We have to figure out ways ... he can play more," Hart said. "We're great with him on. We all got to be willing to sacrifice for the betterment of the team."

  Robinson, 27, is averaging 4.1 points and 7.1 rebounds in the playoffs.

  Hart, 30, is averaging 12.3 points, 8.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists in the postseason

  --Field Level Media

There were four repeat performers and one first-timer named to the 2024-25 Kia All-NBA First Team on Friday.

• Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo heads up the first team, earning top honors for the seventh consecutive year. He was joined by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, along with first-time honoree guard Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

  Gilgeous-Alexander, named the NBA's Most Valuable Player earlier this week, earned his third consecutive first-team accolade, while Jokic captured his second in a row and Tatum was named for the fourth consecutive year. Those four players were named on all 100 ballots from a global media panel.

  Mitchell earned second-team honors in the 2022-23 season.

  New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James and Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley earned All-NBA Second Team honors.

  James extended his NBA record for most selections to 21, matching his number of seasons played dating back to 2004-05. Curry captured his 11th All-NBA Team accolade.

  Brunson and Edwards have now earned back-to-back second-team honors, while Mobley, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, made his debut.

  Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden, Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns and Thunder guard-forward Jalen Williams comprised the All-NBA Third Team.

  Harden now has eight selections in his career, but was picked for the first time since the 2019-20 season. Towns has earned third-team honors on three occasions and Haliburton earned his second in a row. Cunningham and Williams are first-time recipients.

  The media voting panel made their selections without regard to position. Players earned five points for each vote to the First Team, three points for Second Team votes and one point for every Third Team vote.

  The independent accounting firm Ernst & Young LLP tabulated the ballots.

  --Field Level Media

All eyes were on the Indiana Pacers in their stirring late-game comeback and eventual overtime victory versus the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.

• The Pacers' 138-135 win at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night drew a 3.5 rating and 6.6 million viewers on TNT, making it the most-watched Eastern Conference finals opener since 2018. If you're scoring at home, that was LeBron James' last season with the Cleveland Cavaliers when they faced the Boston Celtics.

  Wednesday's game also serves as the second most-watched contest of the 2025 playoffs, save for only Game 7 of the Western Conference first-round series between the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets.

  Indiana rallied from a 14-point deficit with 2:39 remaining in the fourth quarter and appeared to win the game following a friendly carom off the rim on Tyrese Haliburton's apparent 3-pointer at the buzzer. Replays, however, showed that his toe was on the line, thus making it a 2-pointer and forced overtime.

  When he thought the game was over, Haliburton made the choke sign in the direction of the Knicks' bench.

  That type of theatre presented a peak in the ratings, as it drew 8.5 million viewers at 11 p.m. ET.

  Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Friday night in New York.

  --Field Level Media

Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody underwent surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb.

• The Warriors said Moody underwent the procedure on Wednesday in Los Angeles. He is expected to be ready for the start of training camp.

  Moody averaged a career-high 9.8 points per game in 74 games (34 starts) this season. He also made a career-best 126 3-pointers and shot a career-high 37.4 percent from behind the arc.

  Moody, who turns 23 on May 31, is averaging 7.0 points and 2.2 rebounds in 255 games (57 starts) over his four-year career.

  Moody was a first-round choice (14th overall) by Golden State in the 2021 draft. He played one season of college basketball for Arkansas.

  --Field Level Media

Aditya Mittal, the CEO of steel giant ArcelorMittal, has agreed to invest $1 billion into a group purchase of the Boston Celtics, Sportico and Bloomberg reported Thursday.

• A member of one of India's wealthiest families, Mittal reportedly could become the second-largest stakeholder of the Celtics and potentially serve as the alternate governor down the road.

  The top stakeholder will be William Chisholm, whose group reached a deal to purchase the Celtics in March for a whopping $6.1 billion -- the highest price tag in U.S. sports team history. Chisholm, a private equity firm executive, is expected to take over as team governor after the 2027-28 season.

  While the agreement was not fully financed at the time of the deal, Chisholm and his group have raised funds over the past few weeks with Mittal's investment bringing the group closer to the agreed-upon price.

  Mittal is the son of Lakshmi Mittal, executive chairman of ArcelorMittal, which Forbes reports is the largest steel and mining company in the world by output that generates some $68 billion in revenue. In addition, Lakshmi Mittal also sits on the board of Goldman Sachs, the financial adviser for Chisholm's group.

  --Field Level Media

David Adelman is officially the head coach of the Denver Nuggets, the team announced on Thursday.

• The Nuggets removed the interim tag on Adelman, 44, and rewarded him with the full-time job after taking over for the team with three games left in the regular season. Adelman then guided Denver to the second round of the Western Conference playoffs before falling in Game 7 to the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.

  Adelman assumed the interim role after the Nuggets fired head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth late in the regular season. Ben Tenzer is the interim general manager.

  Denver players provided strong endorsements for Adelman after their season came to an end, with forward Aaron Gordon saying Adelman proved "excellent for us," adding that he hoped the coach would remain in place for next season. Similarly, All-Star center Nikola Jokic noted that Adelman "made us believe something, and we played good."

  The son of former NBA coach Rick Adelman, David has been around the game his entire life. After coaching high school in the Portland, Oregon, area from 2002 to 2011, Adelman joined the Minnesota Timberwolves as a player development coach under his father in 2011, where he stayed for five years. He was an assistant coach from 2012-16.

  From there, Adelman served as an assistant with the Orlando Magic in 2016-17 before moving on to the Nuggets as an assistant in 2017.

  --Field Level Media

Cleveland Cavaliers forward-center Evan Mobley, the 2024-25 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, headlined the league's All-Defensive First Team, announced Thursday.

• He is joined by Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort, Golden State Warriors forward-center Draymond Green and guard-forward Amen Thompson of the Houston Rockets.

  This was the second first-team selection for Mobley, the fifth for Green, and the first for Daniels, Dort and Thompson.

  Green also has been named to the second team four times.

  This season's All-Defensive Second Team is made up of Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara, Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, Memphis Grizzlies forward-center Jaren Jackson Jr., Thunder guard-forward Jalen Williams and Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac.

  This is the eighth All-Defensive Team selection for Gobert and the third for Jackson, with the other three making their first appearance on the list.

  Mobley was the leading vote-getter, being named to the first team on 99 of 100 ballots.

  --Field Level Media

The NBA announced Wednesday evening that it has fined Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards $50,000 for using profane language in a media interview.

• Edwards dropped the profanity Tuesday in his postgame news conference following the Timberwolves' 114-88 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.

  Edwards, an All-Star each of the past two seasons, was held to just 18 points - 5 in the second half - and made just 13 shots in the Game 1 loss. His comments aired live on ESPN.

  This is not the first time Edwards has been fined by the league this season. He has been fined for various other infractions, including inappropriate gestures toward officials and fans. He also led the NBA in technical fouls (18) this season.

  The Timberwolves and Thunder meet for Game 2 on Thursday night in Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the NBA Most Valuable Player, the league announced on Wednesday night.

• Gilgeous-Alexander led the league in scoring (32.7 points per game) for the first time and joined Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA history to average at least 30 points per game on 50 percent shooting with per-game averages of at least five rebounds, five assists, 1.5 steals and one block in a season.

  Jordan did it twice, and each time was named NBA MVP (1988, 1991).

  Gilgeous-Alexander received 71 first-place votes and 913 total points in balloting of 100 voters on a global media panel for his first Michael Jordan Trophy.

  "You try so hard throughout the season to not think about it and just worry about playing basketball and getting better and trying to win games," Gilgeous-Alexander said on TNT. "But as a competitor, as a kid dreaming about the game, it's always in the back of your mind, and I am very grateful to be on this side of the ballot."

  Denver's Nikola Jokic, who was the NBA MVP last season for the third time in his career, finished second with 787 points and had the other 29 first-place votes cast. Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo was third (470 total), Boston's Jayson Tatum was fourth (311) and Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell was fifth (74) of 12 players receiving votes.

  Gilgeous-Alexander is the first Thunder MVP winner since Russell Westbrook in 2017. Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant won the award in 2014.

  Gilgeous-Alexander shot 51.9 percent, averaged 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks in 2024-25. He was named All-NBA First Team for the second consecutive season, which makes "SGA" eligible for a four-year, $294 million extension in the offseason.

  "None of it is possible without the guys behind me," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "The amount of games we won and the fashion that we won the games is so impressive, and it's probably the main reason why I get the award."

  The runner-up in MVP balloting to Jokic after the 2023-24 season, Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder to the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and dispatched the reigning MVP's Denver squad in a seven-game series to advance to the Western Conference finals.

  Gilgeous-Alexander, 26, averaged over 30 points per game for the third consecutive season.

  Oklahoma City holds a 1-0 lead in the series over the Minnesota Timberwolves after winning the opener 114-88 on Tuesday night.

  --Field Level Media

The Oklahoma City Thunder are heavy favorites as they play host to Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on Tuesday, but they will be facing a well-rested Minnesota Timberwolves team.

• While the Thunder are fresh off a Game 7 victory against Denver on Sunday, the Timberwolves haven't played since eliminating Golden State six days ago.

  ODDS & TRENDS

  The Thunder are consensus 7.5-point favorites. That includes at BetRivers, where the Timberwolves have been a popular underdog with 67 percent of the tickets and 69 percent of the money backing them to cover.

  The Over on the 216.5-point total bets line has drawn 92 percent of the money. That's despite each of Minnesota's past four playoff games where they entered as the underdog going under the total points line.

  PROP PICKS

  --Alex Caruso 2+ 3-Point FGs Made (+110 at BetRivers): Caruso has drained at least two three-pointers in four of the Thunder's past five games. He offers an even more tantalizing payout at +280 to hit three or more on Tuesday night.

  --Julius Randle Over 19.5 Points (-125 at DraftKings): Randle is coming off a 29-point effort in Minnesota's Game 5 victory over Golden State, and averaged 25.2 points for the series. That's after averaging 22.6 points against the Lakers in the previous series, and Randle has scored 20-plus points in eight of 10 playoff games.

  PLAYOFF HISTORY

  The Timberwolves are in the conference finals for the second consecutive season and the third time in their history. Minnesota has never advanced to the NBA Finals.

  Oklahoma City is in the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2016 and looking for its first NBA Finals appearance since 2012.

  FEELING DEFENSIVE

  The series features two of the NBA's top defenses, both during the regular season and in the playoffs.

  The Thunder boast a 101.6 defensive rating -- points allowed per 100 possessions -- in 11 playoff games, best this postseason. Minnesota's 106.8 defensive rating is second.

  NEW ERA OF STARS

  The matchup also features two of the league's top young stars in Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards.

  Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 29.0 points, 6.4 assists and 5.9 rebounds this postseason while Edwards is averaging 26.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.9 assists.

  Gilgeous-Alexander, the front-runner for Most Valuable Player honors, is looking forward to the matchup against cousin Nickeil Alexander-Walker of Minnesota.

  The two players were born less than two months apart in Toronto and both attended Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tenn.

  "It'll be very fun," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "It's hard to even explain. If you know how close we are, he's literally like my second brother. He's been through every stage of life with me -- picking up a basketball to going to prep school to making the NBA, we've gone through every situation together. For both of us to be where we are is special, to compete against each other even more special.

  "But I am trying to take his head off for sure."

  In a 2023 play-in game, Alexander-Walker helped hold his cousin to a 5-of-19 shooting night.

  Alexander-Walker said Gilgeous-Alexander's consistency has lifted him to a different echelon.

  "That comes from diligence, hard work, seeing it firsthand and discipline that truthfully I haven't seen in anybody else," Alexander-Walker said. "I have not seen discipline like his. So I think that's the main reason why people think he's made a jump when really he's just been able to be consistently that, because he's been so disciplined in his approach."

  SEASON SERIES

  The teams split their four-game season series and split their two games in Oklahoma City.

  Minnesota's Rudy Gobert played in just one of those games -- a New Year's Eve loss -- while Chet Holmgren appeared in two of the games for the Thunder.

  "Apples to apples, I don't know if those games are the perfect framework through which to look at the series," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "It'll be different."

  PREDICTION

  The Timberwolves have covered the spread in 16 of their past 17 games as an underdog when playing with a rest advantage, according to BetRivers. So, while Minnesota will be hard-pressed to pull a massive road upset in Game 1, don't be surprised to see them cover. --Thunder 116, Timberwolves 110

  --Field Level Media

Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle of the San Antonio Spurs was unanimously voted to the 2024-25 NBA All-Rookie first team, the league announced Tuesday.

• Castle, 20, averaged a rookie-best 14.7 points and also led with 74 steals while playing in 81 games (47 starts). The guard also averaged 4.1 assists and 3.7 rebounds and made 95 3-point baskets.

  Castle is joined by forwards Zaccharie Risacher of the Atlanta Hawks and Jaylen Wells of the Memphis Grizzlies, who finished second and third, respectively, in the Rookie of the Year voting in April.

  Wells is joined by his Memphis teammate, center Zach Edey. It's the first time a team had multiple players named to the All-Rookie first team since the Grizzlies did it in 2019-20 with Brandon Clarke and Ja Morant.

  Rounding out the first team, voted on by a global panel of sportswriters and broadcasters, is Washington Wizards forward-center Alex Sarr. With Sarr and Risacher both hailing from France, it marks the first time the team includes two players from the same country other than the United States.

  The All-Rookie second team features Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis, Wizards guard Bub Carrington, Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan, New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi and Miami Heat center Kel'el Ware.

  --Field Level Media

The Cleveland Cavaliers changed head coaches and saw a 16-game improvement in their regular-season record. In the end, the result was the same as the year before: a second-round exit from the playoffs.

• The Cavaliers' remarkable 64-18 regular season placed them in a spotlight they last enjoyed when LeBron James played for the team, and president of basketball operations Koby Altman knows that has invited title-level expectations.

  Altman met with reporters Monday, six days after the top-seeded Cavaliers' Game 5 loss to the Indiana Pacers eliminated them from the Eastern Conference semifinals.

  "I think we can all agree that coming into the season no one predicted us to be (the) No. 1 seed. I don't think anyone had 64 wins," Altman said. "Because we were so good we re-created the expectation of Finals. I think everyone in here saw potential champions, which is a new space for us.

  "We re-created the expectation and now we have to live with that. I think it's a space we want to live in and take that into the playoffs next year, knowing we're going to have to change that narrative, knowing that we have get over the hump."

  The idiom of getting over the hump was present throughout Altman's remarks. When asked if he's confident the current roster construction can win a title, Altman pointed to the team's young foundation, with All-Stars Darius Garland (25 years old) and Evan Mobley (turning 24 in June) supporting lead guard Donovan Mitchell.

  "Us figuring out our offensive identity happened this year and so I'm really high on and optimistic about our future," Altman said. "That being said, it can't just be 82 games. We have to figure out this next 16, we have to figure out how to get over the hump. But this group has shown they can play some of the best basketball in the world. It's how do we do it on the highest stage and continue to keep pushing to get over that hump?"

  Altman signaled a desire to keep together what he called Cleveland's "Core Four" of Mitchell, Garland, Mobley and center Jarrett Allen, who combined to average 76.6 points per game in the regular season. Allen also led the NBA in field goal percentage (70.6) and paced the Cavs at 9.7 rebounds per game while playing all 82 games.

  Altman did say, however, that the Cavaliers wouldn't be afraid to add pieces, even if it took them into luxury-tax or second-apron territory.

  Cleveland was one of the favorites to win the 2025 title once new coach Kenny Atkinson guided the team to a 15-0 start to the season and additional winning streaks of 12 and 16 games later in the season. The Cavaliers swept the Miami Heat before running into trouble against Indiana, despite some massive games from Mitchell.

  "This is Year 3 for the Core Four and they've had incredible success, right?" Altman said. "Playoff success needs to come next, but I think there's an internal belief because of what we proved this year during the regular season and what we're capable of to run it back and see what we can do. But it's not just running it back. It's another year of Kenny.

  "... There was a newness, a freshness this year. I know this is Year 3, but there's a newness, a freshness that we're going to take into next year having failed again in the playoffs and knowing how much that's going to hurt. And we're going to get over the hump. This group's going to get over the hump."

  --Field Level Media

The NBA fined Oklahoma City star Jalen Williams $25,000 on Monday for "wearing clothing with profane language" to his press conference after the Thunder's Game 7 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.

• The shirt Williams wore featured the phrase, "F--k art, let's dance," in red letters across the front.

  Williams did not use profanity when speaking to reporters, but was tagged for his shirt all the same.

  Williams, 24, has been a crucial piece of Oklahoma City's run to the Western Conference Finals, the franchise's first since 2016. In 11 playoff games, he has averaged 19.6 points, second only to MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 29.0 ppg.

  Williams is also averaging 5.4 rebounds and 5.7 assists in the playoffs. In Sunday's 125-93 home win over Denver, he contributed 24 points, five rebounds and a game-high seven assists.

  --Field Level Media

Fresh off surviving Denver in a seven-game series, the Oklahoma City Thunder are heavy favorites to claim the NBA title ahead of conference finals.

• The biggest question appears to be who the Thunder will ultimately face in the NBA Finals.

  The Thunder are -330 favorites at DraftKings to defeat Minnesota in the Western Conference finals. Oklahoma City has been backed by just 46 percent of the total bets placed on the series winner, but the Thunder have drawn 62 percent of the money.

  The over/under on the series length is 5.5 games; Game 1 will take place Tuesday night in Oklahoma City, with the Thunder consensus 7.5-point favorites. That includes at BetMGM, where the line has moved from 6.5 points with the Timberwolves drawing 60 percent of the spread-line bets and 63 percent of the money.

  The East is viewed as a tighter series, with the New York Knicks the -145 favorites at DraftKings to outduel Indiana (+125). While the total bets have been nearly equal, the Knicks have drawn 78 percent of the money wagered on the series winner.

  The book has placed the same 5.5-game series total on the Eastern Conference finals, with the Knicks a 4.0-point favorite ahead of Game 1 at home on Wednesday. The line has held steady at 4.5 points at BetMGM, with the Pacers drawing 59 percent of the spread-line bets and 57 percent of the money.

  The public sentiment on the overall series outcomes translates to the four different potential NBA Finals matchups.

  With the Thunder the heavy -145 title favorite at DraftKings ahead of the Knicks at +450, it stands to reason that Oklahoma City defeating New York has the shortest odds at +195 of all the potential finals outcomes.

  The Timberwolves are +550 to win the finals, followed by the Pacers at +600.

  --Field Level Media

Michael Malone, fired by the Denver Nuggets with just three games left in the regular season, will join the ESPN coverage team at the Western Conference finals.

• Two years removed from leading the Nuggets to the franchise's lone NBA championship, Malone was axed by Denver just over a month ago. Under interim coach David Adelman, the Nuggets went on to push the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder to a seventh game in the second round of the playoffs, where they lost 125-93 on Sunday.

  Malone had guided the Nuggets since 2015, winning a franchise-record 471 games as a head coach during his tenure. Under Malone, Denver earned a playoffs spot in six straight years before he was fired. The Nuggets clinched a spot this season less than week after making their coaching change.

  Malone will serve on the "NBA Countdown" desk, which will be on-site for each game of the Western Conference finals series featuring the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Thunder. He will do pregame and halftime analysis alongside Malika Andrews, Stephen A. Smith, Bob Myers, Kendrick Perkins and Shams Charania.

  The Western Conference finals begin on Tuesday in Oklahoma City.

  --Field Level Media

Denver forward Aaron Gordon was listed on the morning injury report as questionable for Sunday's Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but early Sunday afternoon the Nuggets officially declared him available for the game.

• ESPN had reported that Gordon was unlikely to play in the road game due to a left hamstring strain. But Gordon participated in warmups Sunday and could maintain his usual spot in the starting lineup per reporting from the Denver Post.

  How long Gordon will be able to play remains to be seen.

  ESPN termed Gordon's injury as a Grade 2 hamstring strain, describing the injury as needing "several weeks" for recovery. He left Game 6 on Thursday late in the fourth quarter with the injury.

  Gordon, 29, is in his fifth season with the Nuggets and was a key player on their 2022-23 NBA championship team.

  In 13 playoff games this season, he is averaging 16.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists over 38.2 minutes per game.

  He was limited to 51 games in the regular season due to a strained right calf and a sprained left ankle.

  After Gordon went through a walkthrough on Saturday in Denver, interim coach David Adelman said no decisions had been made about his availability.

  "I'm sure the hoops (to jump through) are probably smaller because the game's coming so quickly," he said. "It's not a thing where he has three weeks to go through it. So it will be probably his comfortability, along with the medical staff's advice on what he can and can't do.

  "If they say he's available, he will start."

  Gordon has hit two game-winners this postseason: a dunk in Game 4 of the opening round against the Los Angeles Clippers and a 3-pointer in the closing seconds to win Game 1 against the top-seeded Thunder. His 3-pointer with 27 seconds left in regulation of Game 3 against Oklahoma City sent the fourth-seeded Nuggets to overtime -- a game they went on to win 113-104.

  The winner of Game 7 will have home-court advantage against the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference finals, which begin Tuesday.

  Nuggets guards Jamal Murray (illness) and Russell Westbrook (right hand sprain), previously listed as probable, also are available.

  --Field Level Media

Four days after Jayson Tatum underwent surgery on a torn right Achilles tendon, ESPN reported on Saturday that fellow Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown has a partially torn right meniscus and might also require surgery.

• Per the report, the 28-year-old Brown, who averaged 22.1 points and 7.1 rebounds in 36.5 minutes per game during the playoffs, played the last month of the regular season and the postseason with the injury. Brown will undergo tests this week to determine whether he needs surgery.

  Brown had undergone pain injections in his right knee beginning in March, ESPN previously had reported. The four-time All-Star sat out the last three games of the regular season but played in every game in the postseason.

  "I don't make excuses," he told reporters after Friday's season-ending road loss to the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. "Obviously, it's tough the way we went out like tonight, but the way we finished the year, personally, the way I finished the year, persevering through some physical stuff that I was battling through, I'm proud of our group."

  The Celtics lost Tatum late in the Game 4 loss to the Knicks, while Kristaps Porzingis wasn't at 100 percent this spring due to an undisclosed illness.

  Finishing his ninth season, Brown - the No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft - appeared in 63 games and averaged 22.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and a career-high 4.5 assists over 34.3 minutes. For his career, Brown has posted averages of 19.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 30.6 minutes in 603 games (496 starts).

  --Field Level Media

Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon could miss Denver's Game 7 game against the Oklahoma City Thunder with a hamstring injury, ESPN reported Friday night.

• A breakout performer in this year's playoffs, Gordon has been diagnosed with a left hamstring strain, putting his status in doubt for Sunday's game at Oklahoma City.

  The 11-year pro and member of Denver's 2023 NBA championship team, Gordon exited the fourth quarter of Game 6 in Denver on Thursday night holding his hamstring. Gordon finished his evening with five points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

  Gordon, 29, is averaging career playoff highs in points (16.8) and rebounds (7.3) and has made several clutch plays this postseason, including Game 1's game-winning 3-pointer against the Thunder (a 121-119 win).

  "He is the soul of our team," Nuggets interim coach David Adelman said following Game 1.

  --Field Level Media